Nashville Children’s Theatre announces a 'Season of Discovery'

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,”Nov.8-Dec.23: Based on the beloved story by Hans Christian Andersen and the hit animated film, this charming musical features familiar songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” along with a bit of NCT’s own magic.(Photo: Vaclav Bicha)

Showcasing a lineup that boasts original programming, regional and world premieres, and the company’s first bilingual production, Nashville Children’s Theatre has announced its 2018-19 “Season of Discovery.”

“Part of our mission is to create theatrical experiences that reflect our evolving community, instill empathy and foster personal discovery,” says executive artistic director Ernie Nolan. “And in looking at these plays, that’s certainly a connecting thread — these are all stories of young people discovering who they are and discovering the world around them.”

Ernie Nolan, NCT's executive artistic director(Photo: Submitted)

The ambitious season includes six works that are new to the company, which was founded in 1931 by the Junior League of Nashville and is recognized as the nation’s oldest professional children’s theater.

“One of the things I really love about this season is the opportunity to offer a fresh take on some really beloved stories. So for example, ‘Tuck Everlasting’ is a brand new adaptation developed especially for young audiences. And we’ll bring our own special brand of magic to ‘The Little Mermaid,’ with original orchestrations and puppets from Brian Hull (of Nashville Public Library’s Wishing Chair Productions).”

The season also highlights promising new programs, such as The NCT Snuggery, a professional performance series designed for children ages 0-5.

“When you think about it, families bring little ones to the theater all the time, so it just makes sense to offer programming especially for this age group,” Nolan says. “We’ll open our very first Snuggery performance — and our season — with ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ in August, and I can’t wait.”

Also new this season, The NCT Hatchery is a new works incubator that is “committed to promoting the voices of artists of color.”

“As Nashville continues to grow, it’s important that we serve the entire community,” Nolan says. “We want to reach out to audiences with empowering stories that reflect the many cultures represented in Music City. One way to do that is to offer a bilingual production, such as ‘Tomás and the Library Lady,’ which we’ll present in 2019. But we also want to reach out to the artists that are creating these important new works.”

Idris Goodwin(Photo: Submitted)

Nolan points to the award-winning playwright, rapper and essayist Idris Goodwin as a prime example. Local audiences may recall Goodwin’s play “And in This Corner: Cassius Clay,” which NCT staged in 2017. In 2019, NCT will present the world premiere of Goodwin’s “Ghost,” based on the book by Jason Reynolds and developed through The NCT Hatchery.

“Idris is such a muscular playwright,” Nolan says. “The way he approaches storytelling is so unique and of the moment, and I love the way he uses language. We’re really thrilled to be working with such an important writer. He will be here in June, workshopping the piece, and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Goodwin says he is eager to bring “Ghost” to NCT, and looks forward to working with Nolan and director Jon Royal.

“There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Nashville right now, and I’m excited to be part of that — particularly with this project,” says Goodwin, a dynamic force in TYA (or Theatre for Young Audiences) who will take the helm as producing artistic director at StageOne Family Theatre in Louisville, Ky., in August. “Jason Reynold’s writing is really amazing. He doesn’t shy away from the world’s harsh realities, but there’s also a very vibrant, colorful quality that really lends itself to the stage. I’m so excited to see NCT embracing new works and stories that foster empathy and imagination.”

“Tuck Everlasting,”Sept.13-Oct.7:This enchanting musical (based on the best-selling novel by Natalie Babbitt), follows a free-spirited girl whose longing for adventure leads her to the mysterious Tuck family — and the secret to everlasting life. Vaclav Bicha

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,”Nov.8-Dec.23: Based on the beloved story by Hans Christian Andersen and the hit animated film, this charming musical features familiar songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” along with a bit of NCT’s own magic. Vaclav Bicha

“Ghost,”Jan.17-Feb.3: This exciting new work from Idris Goodwin (based on the book by Jason Reynolds) centers on seventh-grader Castle “Ghost” Crenshaw, as he joins a local track team and faces the difficult realities of both his past and present. Vaclav Bicha

“Tomás and the Library Lady,”April 25-May 19, 2019:Inspired by the true story of Mexican-American author/educator Tomás Rivera, this thoughtful tale — told in both Spanish and English — follows the son of migrant farm workers as he discovers a world of possibility inside his local library. NCT’s first bilingual production. Vaclav Bicha

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NCT’s 2018-19 season

Two season memberships with a variety of benefits are currently on sale. Memberships range from $179 to $199. Tickets for all individual shows will be available on July 1. Visit nashvillechildrenstheatre.org or call 615-252-4675 for complete details.

• “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” Aug. 11-Sept. 9: Created by NCT’s executive artistic director Ernie Nolan, this immersive, interactive production was designed especially for children ages 0-5. An NCT Snuggery world premiere production.

• “Tuck Everlasting,” Sept. 13-Oct. 7: This enchanting musical (based on the best-selling novel by Natalie Babbitt), follows a free-spirited girl whose longing for adventure leads her to the mysterious Tuck family — and the secret to everlasting life. A TYA world premiere adaptation.

• Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” Nov. 8-Dec. 23: Based on the beloved story by Hans Christian Andersen and the hit animated film, this charming musical features familiar songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” along with a bit of NCT’s own magic. A TYA regional premiere.

• “Ghost,” Jan. 17-Feb. 3: This exciting new work from Idris Goodwin (based on the book by Jason Reynolds) centers on seventh-grader Castle “Ghost” Crenshaw, as he joins a local track team and faces the difficult realities of both his past and present. An NCT Hatchery world premiere production.

• “Tomás and the Library Lady,” April 25-May 19, 2019: Inspired by the true story of Mexican-American author/educator Tomás Rivera, this thoughtful tale — told in both Spanish and English — follows the son of migrant farm workers as he discovers a world of possibility inside his local library. NCT’s first bilingual production.